The hits keep coming, friends! Many of you spent Saturday knocking out the first five challenges. More found money, more found space, more breathing room . . . you’re doing the work and it’s paying off.
Each of the assignments should only take 10-15 minutes and you’ve only missed assignments to Clean Out Your Wallet, Clean Out Your Refrigerator Door, Clean Out Your Car Console, Clean Out Your Sock Drawer, and Organize Your Coupons.
Just a reminder, don’t forget to join the Financial Decluttering Facebook Group of over 1100 people for ideas and encouragement. You’ll love the photos of the clean wallets, clean refrigerator doors, car consoles, and coupon binders
Now, on to the challenge!
Day 6: Clean Out Your Kids’ Backpacks
Hey YOU, yes you who just tuned out because you don’t have school aged kids anymore. You’re not off the hook for this one. If you don’t have kids’ to manage any more, you need to spend some time organizing another area of your home. Choose something small and achievable like your utensil drawer or the space where you store your keys.
Why It Matters:
Y’all, parenting is no joke. I’ve been a mama since 2002. I’ve filled out more forms, paid for more yearbooks, signed up for more camps, and purchased more school supplies than I can count. Keeping up the kids takes time and money. And the black hole that is their backpack can trap more necessary documents than imaginable. Plus, the items that really need to be in your kids’ backpacks are crowded out by old math worksheets, notes from friends, and a random toy won from a classroom competition.
I don’t micromanage my girls’ possessions. I’m not the type to tidy up their rooms or even always do all of their laundry for them. We’re big fans of parenting them toward independence and helping them learn to be grown humans.
HOWEVER, every once and awhile, we need to clear through the backpack of the youngest (she’s in 5th grade) as a group activity. She doesn’t always have the presence of mind to remember to purge the unnecessaries.
How to Do It:
- Locate the backpacks. It’s OK if it takes awhile.
- Together with your child, toss old papers and trash.
- Keep 2-3 pieces of precious art in a folder or snap a photo of the pictures to keep digitally.
- Look for permission slips, order forms, and calendars.
- Keep a pile of important papers belonging to individual kids.
- Place in a folder or magnet together on the fridge (this is what we do).
- Fill out forms that need filled out.
- Write checks and place orders if necessary.
- Put those forms back in the bag ready for Monday morning.
- When you’re finished, take a photo and post it to the challenge post in the Financial Decluttering Group. We’ll celebrate your victory. And/or post on Instagram with the #FinancialDecluttering Hashtag.
- You’ll get bonus points and virtual fist bumps for interesting discoveries.
How to Keep It That Way:
Some kids are naturally organized, others need more help. Teaching kids about the value of their possessions and how money works is an essential part of parenting. If you’re looking to coach your kids’ toward better money management skills, don’t miss these posts:
- The First Lesson for Kids to Learn About Money
- Smart Tips to Teach Kids Money Skills
- How Grocery Shopping with Kids Can Increase Their Financial IQ
- Should You Tell Your Kids You Are in Debt?
Each of our girls have a pile of papers clipped on the fridge with calendars, permission slips, and important info for the year. At the beginning of each month, I clear through the pile and toss no longer needed items. It’s a system that’s worked for us for 6 years. In addition, Brian built a backpack storage system for us in the laundry room where everyone has a cubby to store backpacks, too.
A Few More Thoughts:
There’s never a magical organization system – just what works for you. Don’t try to fit yourself into a box. Instead keep tweaking your own unique system until you find something that works.
I can’t wait to see all we achieve together this month. I’ll continue sharing my own journey in the Financial Decluttering Facebook Group and via e-mails. Be sure you subscribe for both.
Leave your backpack victories and tips in the comments! Help all of us be better managers of what we have.
Our new book Your Money, Your Marriage is now available! Be sure to check out videos on managing money together on Facebook.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
[…] Door, Clean Out Your Car Console, Clean Out Your Sock Drawer, Organize Your Coupons, Clean Out Kids’ Backpacks, Clean Out Your Purse or Bag, Clean Out ONE Pantry Shelf, Clean Off Your Desk. Then check […]